Kenya’s Junior Starlets are bracing for a do-or-die clash in Yaoundé this Friday, April 25, 2025, when they face Cameroon in a high-stakes FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier, just days after suffering their first defeat in seven matches.  

With a ticket to Morocco hanging in the balance, the young side, buoyed by government support and a promise of reward, is out to overturn the 1-0 home loss and script history on foreign soil. 

The Juniors have everything to fight for against the Central African nation after tasting defeat for the first time in seven qualification matches, having narrowly lost 1-0 on Sunday in front of an expectant home crowd in Nairobi. 

The team, led by head coach Mildred Cheche, left the country yesterday in the morning for Yaoundé via Addis Ababa, touching down in Cameroon’s capital at 1 pm (Kenyan time). 

Before their departure, the Junior Starlets’ players and technical bench met with the Principal Secretary in the State Department of Sports, Elijah Mwangi, who shared encouraging words, expressing optimism that the team has what it takes to turn the tide and qualify for the Morocco tournament later this year. 

“I am here on behalf of our Cabinet Secretary, Salim Mvury, just to ensure that the team (Junior Starlets) is well motivated. I am happy because I have seen them and they look very confident and psyched up compared to how they were after the match last Sunday.  

This simply means that the technical bench has done some great work to ensure the players’ readiness, and I am confident that they will beat Cameroon. I have the promise from the young girls that they will come back with a win. We have promised them that we will reward that win,” PS Mwangi said. 

“We are proud of this team and also of the support we have received from the football federation. When we see this U-17 team and the structure we have, it means that we have massive talent in the country and a future in women’s football. Therefore, as a government, we pledge maximum support to all sporting federations to ensure growth in all aspects,” PS Mwangi added. 

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohamed, his deputy McDonald Mariga, who was set to travel to Yaoundé yesterday, and FKF Secretary General Harold Ndege wished the girls the very best in their big assignment at the Stade Omnisport. 

Junior Starlets have been brilliant throughout the qualification campaign, displaying bravery on the pitch since last year.  

The loss on Sunday at Nyayo Stadium was a major blow in their quest for back-to-back World Cup qualification.